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Money, tax and benefits

How to appeal against a benefits decision

If you think a decision about your benefits is wrong, you can ask the office that made the decision to explain it. You can also ask to get the decision reconsidered and, if you're still unhappy, you can appeal against the decision to an independent tribunal.

If you disagree with a benefits decision

When the benefits office sends you a letter about their decision, if you do not agree, you can ask them to explain or reconsider it.

If you're unhappy with a reconsidered decision you can appeal.

You can ask for an explanation or reconsideration of every decision, but some benefit decisions cannot be appealed.

For example, you can't appeal against decisions on:

Budgeting Loans

Community Care Grants

Crisis Loans

The decision letter will make it clear if it can't be appealed.

Deadlines

You have one month:

after getting a decision to ask for it to be explained, reconsidered or to appeal

after getting a reconsidered decision to start an appeal

A late appeal may be accepted if you have special circumstances that prevented you appealing in time. You cannot appeal if more than 13 months have passed.

How to appeal

Information on how to appeal is normally included in the decision letter.

In most cases, it involves:

filling in the appeal form in the leaflet 'If you think our decision is wrong'

posting the appeal form to the benefits office dealing with your claim

You can pick up the leaflet at your local benefits office or download it, below, from the Department for Work and Pensions website.

Benefits for disabled people

For queries about Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance, call the Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance Helpline, 08457 123 456, textphone 08457 224 433. Lines are open from 7.30 am to 6.30 pm, Monday to Friday.

If you're not satisfied with the results, you may be able to appeal by using the DWP leaflet 'If you think our decision is wrong'.